Percussion device for land mines



Dec. 8, 1953 A. F. M. DIELS 2,661,693

PERCUSSION DEVICE FOR LAND MINES Filed May 16, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Dec. 8, 1953 A. F. M. DlELS PERCUSSION'DEVICE FOR LAND MINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 16, 1950 III INVENTOR.

MQM a ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UlTE TENT

Albert Fernand Mari e Die'ls, Balen-Wezel, Belgium, assignor to Poudreries Reunies de Bel= gique S. A, Brussels, Belgium Application May 16, 1-950, Serial No. 162,289

Claims priority, application Luxembourg March 2, 1950 5 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a percussion device for nonmetallic land mines and the like, functioning in response to external pressure or through the medium of a trap device.

The percussion device of this invention is of the type comprising a casing obturated by a movable cover, the displacement of said cover controlling the movement of a percussion rod against the thrust of an assembly of elastic nonmetallic elements articulated at one end on the case, or on a part integral therewith, and at the other end on the percussion rod, said element being adapted to be compressed longitudinally by the axial displacement of the percussion rod and at the same time subjected to a rocking movement, so that after passing through a position of unstable equilibrium, they expand rapidly to move the percussion rod, the striker of which strikes a primer.

This construction enables an ordinary metal spring to be dispensed with so avoiding detection of the mine by known detector devices.

Moreover, regardless of how the actuating pressure is applied to the percussion device, whether slowly or rapidly, or directly or indirectly (with the aid of a trap device) the percussion rod always moves in the same manner and with the same force.

Another object of the invention is to provide a reaction member constituted by three rectilinear elastic elements, disposed at 120 to one another, around the percussion rod and held obliquely in relation thereto. The percussion rod is supported symmetrically and since it is not subjected to any lateral stress, will always remain pro erly centered.

A still further object of the invention is to provide the elongated elements preferably comprising an elastic body maintained between two end fingers of strong material, one of which pivots in an internal groove in the casing, while the other is pivoted between two bearing surfaces on the percussion rod.

The end fingers of each of said elastic elements take the place of hinges, and are so shaped that they fit, on the one hand, the profile of the internal groove in the casing and,- on the other hand, the section of the percussion rod. Another object of the invention is to provide one of the parts of the percussion device, the casing or the cover, which may be formed with at least one groove in which i engaged a slide formed integrally with the other part, so that the cover is then movable both axially and rotationally with respect. to the casing.

The rotation of the cover has the onset of retardmg its axial displacement, so that the starting of the percussion takes place only a fraction of time after the external pressure, caused for example by the passage of a heavy vehicle, has acted on the cover of the mine. The retardation of the percussion thus obtained is a function of the length and shape of the grooves guiding the aforesaid slide or slides.

It should be clearly understood that the retardation of the percussion is optional, and that, depending on the use to which it is desired to be put, the device may be made sensitive and be caused to operate instantaneously. This latter application relates more particularly to antipersonnel mines or to anti-tank mines including a trap device, a number of which may be connested together for explosion in groups.

other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to one skilled in the art throughout the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which are given solely by way of example.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation, partly in section of a land mine utilizing the percussion device of the invention;

Fig.2 is an axial section of the on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a transverse section along the line III-III of Fig. 2

Fig. 4 is a particular application of the en oussion device to an anti-personnel mine; and

Fig. 5 is another application of the device of the invention in combination with a trap' device.

As shown in Fig. l, the casing i of the mine has been partly cut away to show its internal mechanism, as described in detail in the specification of the co-pending application Ser. No. 162,288, filed concurrently herewith.

The percussion device of the invention comprises a casing 2, the annular shoulder 3 of which rests on a system or ribs t formed in the casing I. The casing 2 is obturateu by a cover 5, which is convex towards the top and is adapted to be depressed and driven into the casing 2 under the onset of pressure applied to the stopper 6 of the cover 1 of the mine.

The latter cover is formed with a second systern of ribs 8 resting on an elastic ring ll supported by the ribs or Fig. 2 shows the group of parts constituting the percussion rod IE, the upper end H of which, of square section, is engaged in a corresponding cavity of the cover 5. Four slides or page l2, l3,

aforesaid device,

M and I5, integral with the cover 5 are adapted to slide in the corresponding helical V-shaped grooves l6, l1, I8, and [9 (Fig. 3) formed on the inner face of the casing 2.

Three elastic and non-metallic members, of general elongated shape, 20, 2!, and 22 each have a rounded end 23 which bears in an annular groove 24, while the opposite end 25 engages being a casing, an axially movable cover closing said tween two bearing surfaces 26 and 21 of the percussion rod Ill and embraces by means of its concavity the cylindrical surface of a ring Illa mounted freely on the rod l0.

The ends or fingers 23 and 25 of the elastic members are preferably of rigid material (e. g. hardened rubber, polyvinyl chloride or the like) and are secured at each end of the elastic body 7 proper, of the member 20 (2| or 22).

A ring 28, retained by non-metallic screws 29, prevents removal of the cover 5 from the case 2, the slides I2, 13, i l and I5 normally bearing against the lower face of the ring 28.

During transport and handling, the percussion device of the invention is locked by a safety pin 30 which is easily removed by means of the cord 3| fixed to its end. The pin 30 prevents any rtation and therefore depression of the cover 5.

Moreover, and by Way of additional safety, the percussion rod 16 has a stop 32 which, in order that the rod I!) may pass out of the casing 2 through the bottom aperture as, must be in alignment with a groove 33 formed in the casing. This can only be the case if each of the Slides [2, l3, l4

and is has travelled over the two limbs of its corresponding groove.

The elastic ring 9 shown in Fig. 1 and taking the place of a reaction device prevents the functioning of the percussion device if the pressure applied is less than a predetermined limiting value, such as may apply if the land mine is intended toexplode only under the Weight of a heavy vehicle or of a tank.

However, as illustrated in Fig. 4, the action of the ring 9 may be prevented by using a push-rod 35 supporting a shoe 36, which acts directly on the cover of the percussion device against the thrust of an elastic element 38. An anti-personnel mine being in that case intended, its functioning is rendered instantaneous by the suppression of the groove-slide system described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3.

Finally, Fig. 5 illustrates a modification in which the mine is provided with a trap 31, the inclination of which, at a predetermined angle, has the effect due to the shape of the shoe 36 of depressing the cover 5 and of effecting the percussion and the explosion of the mine.

The percussion device as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, operates in the following manner:

When sufficient external pressure is applied to the minejthe cover 5 is thrust into the casing 2, this movement being accompanied by an angular rotation of said cover first in one direction and then in the reverse direction. The percussion rod :0, controlled by the displacement of the cover 5, is thus depressed and the three elastic members 26, 2! and 22 disposed at 120 to one another, and held obliquely in relation to the percussion rod Ill, are compressed longitudinally.

The depression of the percussion rod in continues and causes a rocking movement of these members until they pass over dead center and abruptly expand, whereupon the rod in is ejected to strike a primer 39 (Fig. 1) which fires the explosive charge.

casing, an axial percussion rod in said casing, said axial percussion rod cooperating with said cover, a primer in front of the extremity of said axial percussion rod, reaction means retaining said axial percussion rod in position, said reaction means comprising elongated elastic elements at to one another around said axial percussion rod and obliquely disposed in relation thereto, each of said elongated elements being pivoted on one end on the casing and at the other end on said axial percussion rod, said elongated elements being adapted to be longitudinally compressed when said axial percussion rod is moved through a predetermined pressure operating on said cover, said elongated elastic elements being thus subjected to a rocking movement, after passing through a position of instable equilibrium in order to move said axial percussion rod into striking engagement with the primer.

2. A percussion device for land mines, including a casing, an axially movable cover closing said casing, an axial percussion rod in said casing, said axial percussion rod cooperating with said cover, a primer in front of the extremity of said axial percussion rod, reaction means for retaining said axial percussion rod in position, said reaction means comprising non-metallic elongated elastic elements at 120 to one another around said axial percussion rod and obliquely disposed inrelation thereto, each of said elongated elements being pivoted at one end on the casing and, at the other end, on said axial percussion rod, said elongated elements being adapted to be longitudinally compressed when said axial percussion rod is moved by the effect of a predetermined pressure operating on said cover, said non-metallic elongated elastic elements being thereby subjected to a rocking movement, after passing through a position of instable equilibrium in order to move said axial percussion rod and cause the same to strike the primer.

3. A percussion device for land mines, including a casing, an axially movable cover closing said casing, an axial percussion rod in said casing, said axial percussion rod cooperating with said cover; a primer in front of the extremity of said axial percussion rod, reaction means retaining said axial percussion rod, in position, said reaction means comprising non-metallic elongated elastic elements at 120 to one another around said axial percussion rodand obliquely disposed in relation thereto, each of said elongated elements being pivoted on one end on the casing and, at the other end, on said axial percussion rod, each of said non-metallic elastic elements including anelastic body maintained between two fingersof strong material, each of said non-metallic elastic elements adapted to be longitudinally compressed when said axial percussion rod is moved by the effect of a predetermined pressure operating on said cover, being thus subjected to a rocking movement, after passing through a position of instable equilibrium, in order to move said axial percussion rod which strikes the primer. 4. A percussion device for landmines, includ mg a casing, an axially and rotationally movable cover closing said casing. at least one internal comprising non-metallic elastic elements at 120 to one another around said axial percussion rod and obliquely disposed in relation thereto, each of said elongated elements being pivoted on one end on the casing and, at the other end, on said axial percussion rod, said non-metallic elastic elements adapted to be longitudinally compressed when said axial percussion rod is rotated and advanced by the efiect of a predetermined pressure operating on said cover, being thus subjected to a retarded rocking movement, after passing through a position of instable equilibrium, in order to move said axial percussion rod into striking engagement with the primer.

5. A percussion device for land mines, including a casing with an axial passageway in its bottom, an axially and rotationally movable cover closing the top of said casing, at least one internal helical groove in said casing, and one slide formed integrally with said cover, said slide engaging said groove to efiect relative rotation, a percussion rod depending from the cover and having its extremity slidably movable axially through the opposite end of the casing, a stop on the side of the rod, said end of the casing having an axial groove to receive said stop, a primer in front of the extremity of said rod, reaction means retaining said rod in position, said reaction means comprising non-metallic elastic elements evenly spaced around said rod and obliquely disposed in relation thereto, each of said elements being pivoted at one end on the casing and at the other end on said rod, said non-metallic elements being adapted to be compressed longitudinally when said rod is rotated to bring the stop into registration with the axial groove, and said elements, due to the predetermined pressure on said cover, being subjected to a rocking movement after passing through a position of unstable equilibrium to move said rod into striking engagement with the primer.

ALBERT FERNAND MARIE DIELS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,336,701 Rasmussen Dec. 14, 1943 2,488,547 Liljegren Nov. 22, 1949 2,514,401 Liljegren July 11, 1950 

